Method and apparatus for treating crude oil emulsions from oil wells



July 1, 1952 R. w. l-:RwlN

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING CRUDE OIL. EMULSIONS FROM OIL WELLS 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Deo. 5, 1946 A l1 QMS:

July yl, 1952 A R. w. ERwlN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING CRUDE OILEMULSIONS FROM OIL WELLS 5 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Dec. 3, 1946 AIIIIIInull ITI QNNS: Q* lll Se u ovbw y N W www Il In w III SQ WQ WN NN QN 4un v A "Hl @w ARMS mu W July 1,` 1952 R. w. ERWIN METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR TREATING CRUDE oIL EMuLsIoNs FROM oIL wELLs 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledDeC. 3. 1946 mm @n .uw

- R. W. ERWIN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING CRUDE July 1, 1952 OILEMULSIONS FROM OIL WELLS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 3, 1946 July 1,1952 R. w. ERwlN 2,601,904

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING CRUDE OIL EMULSIONS FROM OIL WELLSFiled Dec. 3, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fandom@ 7K wy'm,

Patented July 1, 19'52 METHOD AND APPARATUS-FOR TREATING 'CRUDE OILEMULSIONSFROMOIL WELLS `Ransonie W. Erwin, Houston, Tex., assigner to,Salt Water Control, Inc.,`Fort Worth, Tex., a

corporation of Texas ApplicationDecember 3, 1946, Serial No, 713,708

The invention relates Yto improvements in method and .apparatus ,fortreating crude oil emulsions from oil wells.

An object of the invention is `to provide Van improved compact andecient arrangement of heating, Washing, and settling means for thepurpose of breaking down emulsions of crude petroleum and water, andtoelect the further thoroughseparation of the waterfand petroleum fromeach other. This is accomplished in accordance with my invention with aminimum .amount of fuel for heating, a minimum loss of light vapors fromthe oil, a minimum loss of oil with the Water, a minimum carryover ofwater with the oil,fand a minimum requirement of labor andgmaterials forconstructing and assembling the treating system to be disclosed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a highly exible systemthat rwill lend itself Ito the ,changing operationconditions of an cilproducing well and operate with maximum eficiency as more and more`Water is progressively produced with the oil. Generally, when oil wellsare first put on productionthey produce little or no water; then as theoil reservoir is further-and further exhausted, water comes inandsteadily increases in percentage with reference to theoil until,linally, the well is producing nearly all water. When it becomesuneconomical to lift all this water with what little oil `is produced,nthen the -well is plugged and abandoned. When a well lirststartsproducing water, this water usually comes combined with the oil asemulsion. In such operation no free water exists,- and hence thedropping out of free water prior lto heating the mixture is not hererequired. Usually in such cases the emulsion is tight and theoilrequires vigorous washing and settling in vorder .to break thisemulsion and remove the comparatively small traces of water. The uniqueadaptability of my new system to such a problem .will beapparent fromthe further detailed description .of the invention.

Another object of the invention yis lto provide clean, filtered waterfor sub-surface injectionin a closed type injection system if desired,,as described in my Patent No. 2,261,100.

Still another object is to provide a simple, workable horizontal typevof emulsion `treating system that possesses the advantages ordinarilycommon to the conventional vertical type of emulsion treater, whileomitting the vobjectionable features inherent in-such a .vertical type,thus combining good 'features attainable only in a horizontal type withthose .of ,the-vertical type.

(Cl. ISS- 2.70)

A further object of #my invention istoprovide an emulsion treatingsystem that -operates fully under gas or owing pressure throughout fromone compartment to the next, and mwhich Ymay be installed eitherupstream or downstream from the oil and ,gas separator tank ascircumstances require.

Another objectisto provide a continuous flow of -fluids under pressurefrom lone compartment or wash chamber to the next, instead of relyingupon ,the gravitational flow caused by cile-.water density differencesas inmost conventional sys,- terns,.thus insuring a -thoroughand steady.means of dispersing the emulsion in the hot .water wash zones, .therebyminimizing the number of washing steps and reducing the consumption ofemulsion breaking chemicals.

A further object is to provide simple, reliable means vforreturninghottreatedY out Ywater from a lower pressured hot zoneback to ahigher pressure upstream free `water knockout zone, thus utilizing theheat .of the treated ,out water. vIn my vertical type treater asvdescribed in my Patent No. 2,261,101 the water may gravitate from a hotzone to a cold free water knockout zone,

but in a Ypressured lowhorizontal vtreater this is impossible to obtainwithout .using lsome source of power to vmove ,the `hotrwater backupstream tothe cold zone. This is oneadvantage inherent in averticaltype treater `which is at fleast .partially overcome -by my.simple Water return arrangementas will be more fully describedhereinafter, thus` making this important feature also available in ahorizontal type system. However, if Vthe free water knockout issufciently ei'licient in 4dropping out most of the water, then vlittleadvantage is gained in returning hot treated out water to knockout. Inthis case the .simplest cheapest hookup is to use ;a.diaphragm dumpvalveV similar to .the one used onthe lwater outletof thefreewaterknockout .rather than agas operatedblow caseor dump chamber as will besubsequently described. If thediaphragm .dump valve is used, then thehot water fromthe lower pressuredhot zone joins therwater from the coldzoneafter it leavesthereewaten knockout going tothe disposalpit or well.Another object is `to provide.safeeasilyaccessiblemeans ofv entrancetoall-,balefsections,heating, free waterknockout, settlingandlilter-orexcelsior zones f fforfthe purpose of inspection andcleaning.

Another object is Ato s o arrange theiinalgoil settling zone as to-,perrnit 'gasesfpassing `.with the i oil jto by-passfthe nltersectionjustas lthefoil reaches same, the gas going upward and over saidfilter or settling zone, while the oil passes through filter or settlingzone, undisturbed by the gas. This arrangement is to be desired in casethe operator does not choose to use a gas vent valve in the hot chamber,or in case the gas vent valve fails tofunction. Also, it is sometimesdesirable to let gas go on with oil through hot wash zones as it helpsdisperse the oil and give better contacting of the oil with the hotwater.

Another object of the invention is to provide for successive treatmentsof emulsion fluid under varying pressure conditions in separatechambers, each chamber having an upper gas zone above the liquid level,successive gas zones being of successively decreasing pressures owing tothe fact that the owing pressure of the fluid undergoing treatmentdiminishes in successive chambers due to the friction which must beovercome by the fluid being treated in passing from chamber to chamberthrough the various restricte openings connecting said chambers.

Another object is the provision of simple means, such as a floatactuated valve, to remove gas from the heating zone as it is liberatedby heat, thereby lay-passing this gas around the washing and settlingzones and" delivering it to the clean treated oil or to any other placedesired. This avoids turbulent disturbance of the oil-water liquids inthe nal settling zone, adding greatly to the settling capacity in agiven length of time and a given size space for settling. These andother objects and features will be apparent from the followingdiscussion of the advantages oifered by this new typeof emulsiontreater:

ADVANTAGES OF INVENTION (A) Over conventional vertical types (l) Beinghorizontal the improved apparatus may be mounted on low supports withmuch lighter and cheaper hoisting equipment than is required to supporttall vertical vessels on its foundations.

(2) The improved apparatus requires less time and labor to assemble andequip with piping as it is much more accessible and has no high piperisers to be built and hooked on as do most vertical units, andaccordingly the present type of apparatus is much safer for workmen toassemble thanl is apparatus of the vertical type.

(3) My improved apparatus requires less piping for the water outlet,clean oil outlet, untreated fluid inlet, and the gas outlet. There is anactual saving of approximately 100 feet of four-inch pipe in risersalone as compared to a comparable vertical system.

(4) Operating under gas or flowing pressure, rather than by gravity, myimproved apparatus may use smaller diameter piping from one zone to thenext than would be required in a vertical system of equal capacity, thussaving much in piping material cost. Y

(5) Since the cross-sectional oil-water contact area is a chief capacityfactor in the functioning of a free cold water knockout in any type oftreating system, the horizontal arrangement offers much more area andcapacity for a given diameter vessel than does the vertical type. Thus,a foot length of a 6 foot diameter horizontal treater half full of oiland half full of water would provide 60 square feet of settling surface.A 6 foot vertical vessel would provide 28.27 square feet of settlingsurface only, no matter how deep this zone might be. Hence, in order toachieve 60 square feet of settling surface area in a vertical unit onewould have to use an 8.75 foot diameter vessel which would beconsiderably more expensive both for labor costs and materials required.Also, the larger the vessel the thicker must be its walls to withstandcomparable working pressures. Thus it isrche'aper to use a horizontaltype treater and simply make it greater in length if more settling areais desired, which may be done at a very nominal material andconstruction cost,` as compared to increasing the diameter.

(6) Vessels of dierent capacity having uniform diameters, such as 6 feetfor example, may be used exclusively, the capacity of a given systembeing solely governed by its length, thus providing uniform baiiies,heads, and uniform heating element diameters and manways for the variouscapacities demanded. This greatly simplifies manufacturing problems,permits standardization, and provides considerable savings inmanufacturing costs of the system as contrasted to costs where vesselsof several diiferent diameters must be constructed as the demand fordifferent capacity units arise.

(7) The horizontal unit is easier to clean out and inspect than thevertical unit, since a man ycan stand on the ground and perform everyoperation required, whereas vertical type units call for scaffolding orplatforms in order to clean out elevated sections, resulting in muchinconvenience, greater cost and decreased safety for workmen.

(8) The horizontal design is an improvement over the disclosure in myPatent No. 2,261,101 with respect to my unique double jacket combinationinsulator-heat exchanger. In the vertical type apparatus it has provedpracticable to build the jackets about the portion only above theheating element, thus failing to insulate or salvage the great amount ofheat lostl on the walls surrounding the heater element. In my newhorizontal form of apparatus it is possible to completely surround thewalls about the heating element with this double jacket, therebyresulting in considerable improvement over the old vertical arrangement.

(9) Most popular vertical type treaters have horizontal sloping baiileswhich readily 'become loaded with corrosive sediments of iron sulfide,carbonates of calciumv and magnesium, mud and sand. This presents aserious problem of cleaning, maintenance and corrosion of the baiiies.These objections are overcome in my unique horizontal treater baiilearrangement, where the baiiies are nearly vertical and thus do notbecome loaded with sediment. Such sediment as does form falls to thebottom portion of the horizontal shell and may be readily and easilycleaned out through the roomy, easily accessible manways and handholesprovided for each zone in my improved horizontal type treating system.The baffles themselves are very accessible to scraping tools wielded bya man standing on the ground, while no vertical type treaters can offersuch advantages.

(B) General advantages over any type system (l) If little free water isbeing produced with the oil at the time an emulsion treater islnstalled, then no free water knockout chamber it might possess wouldfunction, and accordingly there would be idle space and capacity, thiscondition continuing possibly for several years before greater volumes-ofvwate'r would be produced. This, of course, would constitutea greatwaste and expense. In my horizontal treater I ha-ve provided a novel andunique karrangement whereby by use of simple valves and piping this freewater knockout may be bypassed by incoming fluids, sending them directlyto the heating chamber and then using what was formerly the free waterknockout chamber as a iinal settling space `for the hot washed oil. Thusthere would be put to good use space which would otherwise not be usedfor months or years. Then when more water is produced and a free waterknockout is needed and desired, Vthe system may be re-arranged to usethis space as it was originally intended simply by plugging two holesand opening and closing a few valves. So far as thisinventor knowsy noother treating system offers this dual usage of the free'water knockoutspace.

(2) A uniquely located float controlled valve arrangement in the topportion of the heating chamber which is a characteristic feature of myinvention permits removal of gas prior to the entrance of oil emulsioninto the wash and settling sections, which is very advantageous ascompared with conventional types of emulsion treaters. In cases wherelittle gas is dissolved in the oil the gas vent valve would not berequired and, hence, may be easily omitted.

(3) Since my improved system operates with flow pressure from zone tozone and baie to baille, smaller holes may be used in the spreaders thancould be used in conventional gravity ow treating systems because inthem undue restriction to flow would cause the liquid levels to build upand ilood each respective compartment supplying fluids to the spreader.My improved system provides more and ner streamlets, resulting in moresurface contact of the emulsion with the hot water, all of whichfeatures are direct functions of emulsion breaking. It may be readilyseen that more intense contacting would lessen the needed number ofwashing compartments and thereby give a greater capacity for a givensize washing zone as compared to conventional gravitational ow types. Myimproved system also permits use of smaller amounts of emulsion breakingchemicals than are usually required in'other types of treating units.

(4) Since each chamber and baffle section in my system has an isolatedgas zone above it, each section and zone acts as a cushioned surgeabsorber, which, in combination with the restricted forced flow througheach succeeding spreader, provides a smoother and more continuous flowwith 'diminishing pressure from chamber to chamber through the system asa whole despite heading or uneven discharge of oil wells into thesystem. This smooth even flow is highly essential to eicient emulsionbreaking and oil dehydration, especially in small, compact systemsdesigned to save expensive construction and materials. In all systemswith which the inventor is acquainted, once the liquids enter the systemthe entire flow sheet consists of continuous liquids with no gasintervals to absorb uneven iiows. Nor would a gravitational type systemlend itself readily to the absorption of such unevenness in flow as thishas to be oifset in other systems by building the equipment larger sothat they can absorb such shocks or heads My pressured, zone to zoneshock absorbed, even flow system is believed to be novel.

(5) The float controlled accumulator arrangement which is acharacteristic feature 'of the present invention permits return "of hottreated out water from Athe hotzo'nexto upstream free water'knockoutzone, a result which. accomplished vby gravitational Vflow .in :my:vertical type treater as shown in mylatent :No.,2,26i1,101. This couldnot be done bygravitationallmethods in any completely horizontaltreating system, hence a need for a simple powered means of .returningthis water arises, and this is a novel and characteristic feature of thepresent invention. Y

(6) In any typefof treating system it ishighly desirable thatas littlegas as possible escape with the water discharged from the system. Thisisessential to good level control, and the loss of the gas is an economicwaste. The retentionand utilization of the-gas is-accomplished in mysystem by having an adequate degassing cylinder or chamber for the waterto enter after it leaves the level control means, just prior to @passingvit through the diaphragm Ydump Avalve.` Gas trapped out in this chamberis returnedto the main chamber supplying the vwater by means of a pipe,thus maintaining static gas conditions `in the system as desired.

(7) Another advantage Apossessed by the present system in common withthe systems .disclosed in my prior patents as represented by Nos.2`,261,l057; 2,261,101 and 2,354,856, and inoontrast to other systems is thatall of the water may be filtered before leaving vthe system. This'filtering operation removes foreign matter thatwould be detrimental tosub-surface disposal of water, and removes and saves entrained oil thatwould otherwise be lost with the water.

(8) Myimproved system is avpressure operating system and may be operated`ahead .of the regularly used lease oil andgas separator, taking out thewater and transmitting clean, cooled oil and gas to the separator. Fromthe separator the oil goes to storage tank-s and the gas with its .richgasoline vapors goes to an extraction gasoline plant where all thesevaluable ends are recovered.

(9) An elongated and comparatively slender heating unitwhich ischaracteristic ofmy improved system insures an equal distribution ofheat in the heating zone and thorough contact of oil with the heatingelement and with .the hot wash zone.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawing and the following detailed description in which areset forth an illustrative embodiment of the inventive thought. f

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section, largely diagrammatic incharacter, of my entire system, parts being shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a similar View on a larger scale of the heating chamberportion of the system together with the heat interchanger surroundingthe same, and a portion of theadjacent bafliing chamber or zone, andportions of the pipe lines and flow control means associated therewith;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the bafliingand filtering or settling zonestogether with portions of the adjacent heating and water knockoutchambers or zones and portions of the pipe lines and flow control meansassociated therewith;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the water knockout zone together with aportion of the adjacent ltering zone and portions of the pipe lines andflow control means associated therewith;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detailview of ajportion of one of the downpipesand spreaders .employed in'thebafingzone;

Fig'. 6 is a second or modified arrangement showing portions of thefiltering and knockout zones, and with a hot water discharge connectionleading from the filtering zone directly through a diaphragm dump valveto a disposal pit or well without passing through the water knockoutchamber.

GENERAL CONSTRUCTION Referring to the drawings in detail, the referencenumeral I denotes generally my improved treating vessel which is in theform of an elongated cylinder suitably supported on piers or the like IIand I2 resting upon the ground or other surface.

The treater is preferably divided lengthwise by means of suitablepartitions or plates into various treating zones or chambers whereindifferent operations are performed. At the right end of the treater is aheating chamber or hot zone A which extends from the right hand end ofthe treater to an inclined partition plate l! which separates theheating chamber A from a washing and baffling chamber or zone B composedof a series of inclined partition plates each having an opening near thetop through which extends one end of av down pipe having a spreader atthe lower end thereof. Y

To the left of the .baffling zone B is a filtering or settling chamberor excelsior zone C which is separated from the bafliing zone by aperforated partition plate E3 having teat like projections thereon. Theother end of the filtering or settling chamber C terminates in apartition plate 3'! which separates the chamber C from a water knockoutchamber or zone D which extends to the left end of the treating chamber.

The primary function of the heating chamber or zone A is to initiallysupply heat to the iiuid to be treated and to separate out a portion ofthe gas carried therewith. This chamber is preferably jacketed toconserve heat and the jacket may be of the heat exchange type whereinthe incoming fluid to be treated is preheated in passing through thejacket and hot clean oil from which the water has been separated iscooled prior to its passage from the system.

The primary function of the baiiling chamber B is to break up theemulsion and at least partially separate the oil and water constituentsthereof prior to their passage into the filtering 0r settling Zone C.

In the lterine or settling zone C oil is filtered or settled and fromthe top of this zone clean oil is withdrawn, then cooled by heatinterchange with the incoming fluid to be treated, and then withdrawnfrom the system. The water or brine is withdrawn from the lower portionof the filtering or settling zone and returned to the free waterknockout chamber D, or discharged through'a diaphragm dump valve to adisposal pit or well.

Into the free knockout water chamber D the emulsion which has preferablybeen preheated by means of the preheating jacket surrounding the heatingchamber A is discharged, and in` this chamber separation of free waterfrom the emulsion takes place as well as separation of a portion of thegas contained in the fluid to be treated. An excelsior filter ispreferably provided at the bottom of the chamber for removal of anytraces of oil from the water prior to its discharge from the system.However, in some cases this filter material is not required.

The chamber A is provided with a heating element I3, herein shown ascomprising a horizontal inlet pipe I4 vconnected by a vertical pipe I5to a horizontal outlet pipe I8 leading to a stack or discharge pipe I'Ioutside the treating vessel. Heat may be supplied by means of a suitableburner I8 adapted to discharge hot combustion gases into the horizontalpipe Il of the heating element, the burner being supplied with fuelthrough pipe I9 controlled by a valve 20. The heating unit may bereadily removed for cleaning or to permit access to the interior of thetreating vessel, being carried by a removable manhole cover or plate 2lin one end wall of the treater. Such a heating unitis shown in my PatentNo. 2,495,673, dated January 24, 1950.

The zone occupied by the heating element I3 and the space adjacentthereto constitutes the heating zone or chamber. This end of the treateris preferably encased by a double walled exchange jacket comprising anouter wall 22 and an intermediate wall 23. The wall 23, together withthe wall lo of the treater itself provides a preheating jacket 2A forthe incoming fluid entering through inlet 25 composed of oil, gas,emulsion and water from the well or an oil gas separator, theproportions of each of these ingredients in the incoming fluid varyingin each individual case. An outer jacket 2E? formed by walls 22 and 23serves to cool the stream of cleaned hot oil entering the outer jacketfrom below through horizontal pipe 2l from stand pipe 2B prior to itspassage from the system through oil outlet pipe 2S. The iiow of oil intothe outer jacket through pipe 2l may be controlled by means of asuitable valve 36. However, this unit may be readily operated with theinternals as shown without having either or both of the jackets, thepiping being made simply to not include the jackets in their course. Thejackets function as preheaters, heat exchanger coolers, and insulatorsfor the hot end of the vessel.

The incoming fluid containing oil, gas, emulsion and water enters theinner jacket 2li through the inlet 25 under flowing pressure and passesup and around the main Vessel shell I e where it picks up heat normallyradiated to atmosphere from the hot vessel, and also absorbs heat fromthe cleaned hot oil in outer jacket 26, thereby cooling it prior to itsleaving the system. The preheated fluid passes out of the inner jacket24 through conduit 3 I, passes through opened valve 32 and pipe 33(valve 34 being closed) into an inside riser pipe 35. The fluid to betreated is discharged into the free water knockout chamber D throughopening 36 (Figs. 3 and 4) The chamber D is at the opposite end of thetreater vessel from the heating zone A and is separated from theremainder of the vessel by means of the vertical partition 3l.

Near the opposite end of the chamber D from the riser pipe 35 throughwhich the preheated emulsion enters the chamber is a second riser pipe38 which opens a few inches below the top of the chamber D, thuspermitting some gas to accumulate in the upper portion 29u of thechamber while the excess gas continues with liquids through the outletriser 3S and passes from the chamber.

Emulsion enters riser 3-8 at point 39, goes through pipe lio and openvalve 4! (valve i2 being closed) to point lit where it enters anelongated spreader l located in chamber A below the heating element I3.The emulsion leaves all along the spreader through holes 45 and passesupwardly through the hot water in the heating zone, contacting heatingelement I3, then passing upwardly and accumulating in the hot upper 9lportion of ychamber A. Here most of the gas is liberated due to heating"and accumulates in the upper Zone 20| of the heating chamber.

The gas may be removed either by means of a float controlled valve 45out through pipe 41 to the clean oil line 29 through valve 48, or to anydesired place through Valve 49, or it may be sent on through the systemwith the oil, emulsion and Water and not discharged at this point atall, where only small amounts of gas are present.

HEATING CHAMBER A The chamber or hot zone A is formed by the end of themain vessel, the main vessel shell and the inclined partition 50 locateda short distance beyond the end of the heating element I3 and separatingthe heating zone A from the baffling zone B. The chamber A remains fullof liquid under all conditions except for the gas Zone 29| at the top ofthe chamber, assuring complete immersion ofthe heating element at alltimes.

l 'WASHING AND BAFELING CHAMBER B Hot oil and emulsion and water leavethe upper portion of the chamber' A and enter a downpipe 5| at a point52 near the top of partition 50. rlhis fluid passes down pipe 5| to across pipe or spreader 53 (see Fig. 5), which spreader is perforatedwith small holes 54. Here the fluid is forced out into a washing andbaiiiing section between partition 50 and a second partition plate 55 infine streamlets. The fluid washes through water upwardly to a point 50beneath partition plate 55 and enters pipe 51. The fluid moves down pipe51 to spreader pipe 58 similar to cross pipe 53 and thence into the nextbale section in zone B to repeat the operation carried out in thepreceding baffle section. The fluid is then Washed back up to a point 59under plate 60 where it enters downpipe 6| and discharges through aspreader 02 which is similar to spreader pipes 53 and 58l rlShe purposeof this` intense baffle scrubbing and dispersion is to break down anyremaining emulsions into oil and water droplets of larger size. As manybaiiie sections as needed may be used in the zone B, the unit being de.

signed to t each particular job'.

Each downpipe 5|, 51 and :0| has collars 15 and 10 and plugs 11 tofacilitate cleaning out of the down pipes, and exchanging nipples 18 and19 to vary the size of the holes 53 vfor a given amount of liquid to behandled, see Fig. 5.

Each of the individual sections of the baffling and washing zone B maybe inspected and cleaned through handholes 80, 8|V and 82 located at thebottom of the chamber B. The, heating chamber A may be inspected andcleaned through a manway 83 adjacent manway 80 in the chamber B.

FILTERING AND SETTLING- CHAMBER C" The oil and emulsion leave spreader62through perforations therein similar to the perforations in spreaders54 and 58, and pass upward under perforated plate 03. Plate 03 hasprojected teat like openings 64 therein. The oil largely separated fromthe water passes through these teat like openings 64 and the'excesspasses through a larger pipe opening 05 and is introduced into thefiltering or settling or excelsior zone C. In some instances no filtermedium is required here, only settling of the oil. Any gas travelingwith the oil passes up perforated plate |33, following the path ofleast-resistance, through perforations at top of plate-63 into gas Zoneabove oil.

1.0. zone in section C, thus by-passing oil filter-settling zone and notagitating same.

To leave the chamber C the fluid undergoing treatment must pass up andacross this zone through the ltering material- |90 therein vto reachoutlet riser 28. By now it has'been purged of all water and issubstantially clean oil. The water passes downwardly through theexcelsior into a lower zone 203.

Some water from the spreader 62Av passes through an openingI "bene`aththe spreaderplate 63 and across the lowerportion ofzone 203 to theentrance to riser pipe 86, then passes up through the pipe 86 and over`to the vdownpipe 81 through which it passes downwardlyand then out at83 to pipe 89, then through check Valve 90 andV pipe 9| into the lowerportion of a closed pressure chamber 93. Displacement gas under pressurefrom any suitable source enters the upper portion of the chamber 93through a valve 94 steadily and continuously.

When the liquid level is low in chamber 93 and the float orvalve 90isdown, thereby opening valve 96, the gas from the upper portion ofpressure chamber 93 passes out through vent valve 90 and exit pipe 96leading through plate 91 in the end of chamber 93 into a pipe 98 insidethe down pipe 81 and on up into the gas zone 204 atthe top of thefilterzone C.

Water from the chamber C enters. the pressure chamber 93 'since gas is.being vented as described, whereupon the liquid level in chamber 93rises, thus raising the float 95 which nally closes valveil. Under suchconditions gas pressure builds'up-withinthe chamber. 93 and' forceswater out of the chamberv 93y at' pointV |00 into pipe |0| throughcheckvalve |02'into the lower portion of pipe 35. This water joins the coldincoming untreated iluids at point |93 and passes through opening'30into the knockout chamberD. When the liquid levelv in pressure chamber93 falls the float 95 falls, excess gas pressure is released throughvalve 90 and accumulated water in the lowerzonev293 of the filterchamber'passes over riser pipe 89 and downpipe 81 and rells the pressurechamber 93 with hot water, repeating the emptying performance.

If the oil and flowing conditions of a lease are such that most of thewater is dropped out in the free Water knockout, then there is noadvantage in returning a small volume of hot water from the hot oilchamber C to the free water knockout chamber D. In this case no gasVpressured return chamber 93 would be economical or practical. It wouldbe preferable to attach a diaphragm dump valve 2|9" similar to. valve||9l to pipe 89 leading from the chamber C through connecting pipe 300and send the water from the chamber C directly to the disposal pitorwell along with the' water from the dump valve. H9. See Fig. 6 showingdump valve arrangementfor hot Water discharge from theV chamber C.. Withsuch arrangement no inner pipe 98 would be required within the pipe 81.

The clean oil which accumulates at. the top of filtering and settlingchamber C enters the discharge riser 28 at point |04, which is a fewinches below the top of the chamber to permit existence of a gas zone205 which further occurs at 204 below the manhole |05. As previouslydescribed the hot, clean oil passes. down pipe 28 and out at pointv |95through pipe 21' and opened valve ,'30 tothe outerl jacket 26 of theheat eX- ,changer surrounding the heating. chamber A. ThisV oil passesupwardly and around the inner jacket, giving up its heat to the colduntreated iiuid in the inner jacket zone and to the atmosphere. The oilpasses out at point 250 through pipe 29 which leads it to a clean oilstorage (not shown). Any gas that accumulates in the zones 204 and 205above the filter chamber C also goes with the clean oil to storagetanks..

Excelsior in the upper zone of chamber C may be removed and replacedthrough upper and lower manways and |01. Risers 85 and 81 are built onthe manway plate of the lower manway |01, thus permitting easy removalfor adjustments and cleaning. Float valves 96 and 45 may be removed onplates 91 and |08 in chambers 93 and A respectively.

FREE WATER KNOCK-OUT CHAMBER D All of the water that separates out ofthe emulsion in the upper zone |09 of free water knockout chamber D andows by gravity into the lower water zone ||0 runs down inclined platewhich with perforated vertical plate ||2 forms a housing for anexcelsior body |3 for nltering the water. The water enters perforatedplate ||2 through openings H4 and passes through the excelsior lteringmaterial to the entrance to outlet riser 2|5 located near the bottom ofthe tank. The water passes up and out into a liquid level controllingriser comprising a pair of adjustable water legs H6, H6, and over thetop thereof at ||1 and down and into a degassing chamber H8 at point H9.The water leaves chamber ||8 at its bottom and enters a diaphragm dumpvalve |19 at point |20, and leaves through pipe |2| leading to a pit orsubsurface system (not shown).

The lower passage between the legs of the riser I3 may be normallyclosed either by means of a valve or plug so that under the influence ofgas or owing pressure in the system the water passing from the systempasses first over the adjustable riser l5, whereby the liquid levelwithin'the treater may be regulated as desired. Any suitable means formaking the riser adjustable may be employed. As shown the riser ||6 isbuilt to rotate on collars or unions to permit raising or lowering forlevel adjustments. A flexible hose pipe |22 connects the top portion |1of riser H6 into gas pipe |23 which returns gas to riser |23 openinginto the top of chamber D. The construction and function of the riser||6 are similar to those of the siphons or risers 51 and 58 disclosed inmy Patent No. 2,261,057, which serve to control the liquid levels in thetanks to which they are applied. Other liquid level controls may beemployed if desired, but this form of adjustable hydrostatic control hasbeen found to be satisfactory in actual practice. The pipe |23 alsovents gas from degassing chamber .l |8. The riser |24 communicates withthe gas zone 200 in the upper part of the free water knockout chamber D.Above the riser |24 is a safety release valve |26 for fluids in case ofundue pressures on the system.

Any oil removed from the water in the excelsior lter zone I3 beneathpartition accumulates under the partition and ows upwardly to an outlet|30 to a riser pipe |3| slightly removed from pipe 2|5, which dischargesthe oil at point |32 into upper oil zone |09 of the chamber D.

Excelsior in water filter zone ||3 may be changed through a many/ay |40.Access to the free water knockout zone in chamber D may be had throughmanway |4| in the bottom of the tank.

If only a little water is to be handled for some time after the treateris rst installed, then it is desirable to use the free waterknockoutrzone D as a nal hot oil settling chamber. In such event thevalves would be manipulated as follows: close valve 32 in pipe 33leading to the free water knockout chamber and open valve 3d to allowiluid to iow through pipe |50 directly to 'the spreader 44; close valve4| in pipe 40; open valve 42 leading to chamber 26; close valve 30 inpipe 21 and pull out the bull plugs |51 and |52 in the partition 31which separates chambers C and D; Then the emulsion supplied from pipe25 will pass from the inner jacket 24 of the heat interchanger' directlyto the spreader 43 through pipes `|550 and. |53, bj1-passing the freewater knockout chamber' D Treated oil from the upper portion ol" chamberC will then pass through the opening made by pulling the upper plug |5|directly intoI the upper zone |09 in chamber D for iinal settling.before leaving chamber D at point iil through riser outlet pipe 38 topipe L30 which conducts it through valve 42 into the outer jacket 25 ofthe heat interchanger. From this portion the course is as previouslydescribed. Water from chamber C leaves the lower zone 203 through theopening made by pulling the lower plug |52 in partition 31 and pursuesits course as previously described.

The horizontal vessel I0 is supported a few feet oi the ground by anydesired type of support and l2. The heating element |3 may be any typedesired, but preferably removable on the manway plate 2| together withthe smoke stack l1, burner I8, gas valve 20 and pipe 9 as more fullydescribed in my application Serial No. 587,387, led April 9, 1945, nowPatent No. 2,495,673, dated January 24, 1950.

It will be understood that uid pressure is relied upon as the powersource for passing the fluids undergoing treatment through thesuccessive chambers or zones of the system. The fluid entering thesystem through inlet 26 will be at the maximum pressure and there willbe a continuous pressure drop through the remainder of the system, theiinal least pressure being at the clean oil outlet 29 where oil iinallyleaves the system to go to storage. The pressure of the entering uid isthe normal owing pressure which, in the case of a flowing well, may bethe natural pressure im parted by gas within the well, or in the case ofa non-flowing well the fluid pressure may be imparted by means of a pumpor the like, as is well known in the art. Thus, the incoming fluid underits normal flowing pressure will ordinarily be passed successivelythrough the heat interchanger, then into the free water knock-outchamber D, then to the heating chamber A, and thence successivelythrough the washing and settling chambers B and C, where the uid issubjected to successive treatments for separating the oil, water andgaseous constituents. The only case in which outside pressure is reliedupon is where liquid from the relatively low pressure chamber C is to bepumped into the relatively high pressure chamber D, in which caseoutside pressure in the form of gas is introduced into the system at thepressure chamber 94 and is relied upon to perform this additionalpumping function.

The invention has been described in detail for the purpose ofillustration, but it will be obvious that numerous modifications andvariations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

I claim:

l. An oil-water emulsion treater comprising a tubular horizontallydisposed casing including a baiiiing chamberl having a series of spacedparallel inclined walls extending completely across the interior of thecasing and dividing said chamber into separate washing and bafflingzones, each wall having an lopening near the upper portion thereof, andacorrespo'nding ynumber of down pipe and spreader units, onel supportedon the upper inclined surface-of each wall, each said unit including adown pipe member having an inlet portion communicating' with the openingin-its respective wall and-having an out'- let member comprising alaterally' extending perforated pipeVV communicating with the down pipeadjacent thev lower portionthereof, and pressure means for passing fluidundergoing treatment through the successive units-of the series. y

2. An emulsion treater as set forth in claim l wherein each separatezone lcontains aga-s chamber'at the top thereof, said successive gaschambers having progressively decreasing pressures.

3. In an emulsion treater, a water knockout chamber including anv upperoil zone and a lower water zone, a filtering chamber within the waterzone having filtering material therein, said chamber including aninclined upper wall, and

a substantially vertical end wall perforated below the upper portionthereof, means for-supplying emulsion to the knockout chamber at the oiland water interface, means for withdrawing oil v from the upper zone,means for withdrawing water from the lower portion of the Yfiltering Ichamber, and an oil return pipe connecting the under surface of theupper portion of the vinclined top wal-l of the filter chamber with rthetop oil zone, whereby oil which accumulates beneath said top wall maybesalvaged.

4. An emulsion treater comprising a horizontally arranged cylindricaltank having heatting, baiiling, settling and water knockout chamberstherein separated by substantially upright partitions, a heatinterchange jacket surrounding the heating chamber, means for supplyingemulsion fluid to be treated to said heatfinterchange jacket, a valvedpipek connection leading from the jacket to the water knockout chamberfor transferring preheated emulsion fluid thereto, a separate valvedconnection bypassing the water knockout chamber and leading from theheat interchanger to the heating chamber for supplying emulsion fluidthereto without passing through the Water knockout chamber,

a valved pipe connection leading from the upper portion of the waterknockout chamber to the heating chamber for normally supplying fluidfrom which freewater has been removed toi the heating chamber, aconnectionV leading from the upper portion of theheating chamber toV thelower portion ofthe baliiing chamber, and perforations in the partitionseparating the bailiing and settling chambers, a connection leading fromthe upper portion of the settling chamber for withdrawing treated oilfrom the treater, and means in the partition between the freeV waterknockout and settling chambers for selectively cutting off communicationbetween said chambers through the partition-to maintain separatechambers, or for placing the two chambers in communication so that thewater knockout chamber may function as a part -of the settling chamberwhen its water knockout function is no required.

iii)

voil thereto, a fluid connection leading from` the upper portion ofvtheyheating,chamber to the f. lower portion of the bafiling'chambe'r,pressure avoid turbulence, and meansfor maintaining con- Y stant liquidlevels within the casing, theincoming emulsion uid entering' the freewater knockout chamber being-supplied at theoil and water interfacetherein.

6. Inan emulsion treater, awash-ing and bafing chamber including aseries ofl inclined plates extending from top to bottom of the treatereach having an upper opening therein, a series of downpipe and spreaderunits corresponding in number to the inclined'plates, each having aninlet communicating with the opening in its respective inclined plate,and each unit including a downpipe and a laterally disposed spreaderoutlet pipe having perforations therein, and pressure means for forcingfluid through the successive units.

7. A horizontal'emu-lsion treater comprising a heating chamber havingheating means therein, a bailling chamber'having bailies therein, a hotoil settling chamber, anda free water knockout chamber separated byinclined partitions, there being valved communications around thepartition between free water knockout chamber and hot oil settlingchamber that may be optionally opened or closed to permit use of freevwater knockout space as either free water knockout or additional cleanoil settlingspace as may be desired.

8. An oil-emulsion treater comprising horizontally alignedheatinghwashingv andV settling chambers, heating means within theyheating chamber, partitions separating said chambers, relativelyrestricted fluid passageways connecting said chambers, means for passingunder pressure emulsion fluid to be treated through said successive`chambers, and means for separately withdrawing oil and water from thesettling chamber at different levels.

9. An emulsion treater as set forth in claim 8, wherein a free waterknockout chamber is provided ahead of said heating chamber, and a fluidpassage is provided connecting said knockout and heating chambers forsupply pretreated emulsion to the heating-chamber.

10. An emulsion-treater as set forth in claim 9, wherein the heatingchamber is substantially completely and intimately surrounded byapreheating jacket and'incoming fluid to be treated passes through saidjacket before entering the heating chamber; y

11. An emulsion .treater as' set forth in Vclaim 10, whereinl means4are'Y provided forH passingA the oil withdrawn from' saidvsettlingchamber in heat interchange relation to the incoming fluidentering the heating chamber.

12. An oil-emulsion treater comprising a fluidtight casing having aplurality of horizontally aligned chambers including a heating chamberhaving heating means therein, a settling chamber, and a free waterknockout chamber, partitions separating said chambers, restrictedconduits connecting successive chambers, means for passing underpressure fluid undergoing treatment from the heating chamber through thesettling chamber, valved connections for separate withdrawal of oil andwater from the settling chamber from different levels therein, means forsupplying fluid to be treated to the free knockout chamber, and a fluidpassage connecting the upper portion of the free knockout chamber withthe lower portion of the heating chamber for passing emulsion :duid fromthe free water knockout chamber to the heating chamber for furthertreatment. Y

13. .An oil-emulsion treater as set forth in claim 12, wherein cut-olfmeans are provided in the passage connecting the free water knockoutchamber and the heating chamber, and an emulsion supply pipe leadingdirectly to the heating chamber and by-passing the free water knockoutchamber.

14. An emulsion treater as set forth in claim 13, wherein the partitionbetween the settling chamber and the free water knockout chamber isprovided with openings having removable closure means whereby the freewater knockout chamber may be used as either a separate chamber or as anextension of the settling chamber as desired.

l5. An emulsion treater comprising a closed horizontally disposedelongated tubular casing, upright partitions dividing the casing intoseparate chambers including (l) a closed free water knockout chamber,having means for supplying thereto under pressure relativelycool-emulsion to be treated, and (2) a separate closed settling chamberhaving a lower pressure therein than the water knockout chamber adaptedto contain relatively hot uids and including a top gas pressure zone, abottom water zone, and an intermediate oil zone, means for withdrawingwater from the lower zone, pumping means for transferring the waterwithdrawn from the low pressure settling chamber to the high pressurefree water knockout chamber, and means for separately withdrawing oilfrom the settling chamber.

16. An emulsion treater comprising a casing including a washing andbafliing chamber, up-

right partitions separating said chamber into successive horizontallyaligned zones, and a spreader unit for each partition comprising a downpipe having a single inlet passing through the upper portion of itsrespective partition, and having a perforated outlet near the bottom ofthe partition, said partition means extending from top to bottom of thecasing, and pressure means for causing fluid to be treated to passthrough said successive zones.

17. An emulsion treater comprising a casing having successesivehorizontally aligned chambers including a heating chamber having aheating unit therein and a washing chamber, upright partition meansextending from top to bottom of said casing and separating said heatingand washing chambers, means for supplying under pressure fluid to betreated to the heating chamber below the heating unit, and a singlerestricted conduit connecting said heating and washing chambers topermit passage of heated emulsion from the upper part Vof the heatingchamber into said washing chamber, said conduit having an inlet passingthrough the upper portion of the partition and an outlet adjacent thebottom of the washing chamber, and means for withdrawing treated fluidfrom the washing chamber.

18. An oil-emulsion treater comprising an elongated horizontallydisposed tubular casing, partition means separating said casing intohorizontally aligned treating chambers, including a heating chamberhaving heating means therein and a settling chamber, means for passingfluid to be treated under pressure through successive zones of saidtreater, a free water knockout chamber located ahead of said heatingchamber, means for, supplying emulsion fluid to be treated to the freewater knockout chamber for separation of free water therefrom, conduitmeans connecting the upper portion of said'free water knockout chamberwith the lower portion of said heating chamber for supplying emulsionfrom which the free Water has been separated, and conduit means forwithdrawing substantially water free oil from the upper portion of thesettling chamber.

19. An emulsion treater comprising a horizontally disposed elongatedcasing, partitions in said casing dividing said casing into separatechambers, including a heating chamber having a heating unit therein, asettling chamber and a free water knockout chamber, a heat interchangejacket surrounding the heating chamber, means.

for supplying emulsion fluid to be treated to said heat interchangejacket, a valved connection leading from the jacket to the waterknockout chamber, a pipe connection leading from the water knockoutchamber to the heating chamber, a restricted fluid passage between saidheating chamber and said settling chamber, a passage leading from theupper portion of the settling chamber for withdrawing treated oil fromthe treater, pressure means for passing uid through successive chambersin said treater, and means in the partition between the free waterknockout and settling chambers for selectively cutting off communicationbetween said chambers through the partition to maintain separatechambers, or for placing the two chambers in communication so that thewater knockout chamber may function as a part ci the settling chamberwhen its water knockout function is not required.

20. An oil-emulsion treater comprising a horizontally disposed tubularcasing, partition means separating the casing into horizontally alignedchambers, including a heating chamber havinga heating unit therein and asettling chamber, restricted conduit means connecting successivechambers to permit passage of fluid being treated to separate oil andwater therefrom, means for separately withdrawing substantially oil freewater and water free oil from different levels of the settling chamber,and a preheating chamber for the incoming emulsion comprising a jacketsubstantially completely and intimately surrounding the heating zone ofthe treater and having a connection leading to the heating chamber forsupplying preheated fluid thereto.

21. An oil-emulsion treater comprising a horizontally disposed tubularcasing, partition means separating the casing into horizontally alignedchambers, including a heating chamber having a heating unit therein anda settling chamber, re-

`1-7 stricted conduitk means connecting successive chambers .topermitpassage ofluidlbeing ,treated to separate oil and water.therefrom, means for separately withdrawing,.substantially y .oil freewater and water .free oil .from diierentlevels of the settling chamber,,a .preheating chamber '.for

the incoming..emulsion,.. comprisinga .jacket substantially .completelyv.and .intimately surrounding the heating zone..of rthe`treatenandlhavinga connection leading `to .r theflheatingchamber.. .for

supplying preheated 'uid thereto,` and. anouter jacket for cooling foilwithdrawnfrom .meset- -tlingchamberyslaid louter jacket [surrounding.the emulsion heating jacket. .and .f being. 4in'. heat. interchangerelation thereto.V

. r22. A,An oil-emulsiontreaten comprisinggaihorizontally disposedtubular. casing, .partitionssepa- .rating said.. `casing:intohori'zontallly aligned heating andf settling4^ chambers,ar-heating, unit in said .heating .Y .chamber,.;- anemulsion. preheatingjacket .substantially'.completely. an'dlintimately surrounding. .theportion `of '.the casing containing the heating.meansandlinheat.interchange relation therewith, conduit. means...connecting said preheating. -jacket .with .said heatingchamxthedegassing chamber, an inverted U-.tube hav- 'ing itstwo legscommunicating "withi'sa'idwater outlet pipe intermediate the knockoutchamber and the degassing chamber, "afgas' return pipe leading Afrom theupper portion of the degassing .chamber to the gas zone of :the-waterknockout chamber, Aa flexible pipe connecting the 'upper portion of theU-tube with saidsgas returnfpipe, a=water outlet leading from ther-lowerportion of .said degassing chamber,v andconduit meansffor A,introducing4an oil and waterfmixtureA to the knockout chamber. e

V24.v In a horizontal cylindrical femulsionstreater, means -formaintaining a predetermined `Vliquid level within the treater, avwater:knockout chamberwithin the treater having aneupperzoilyzone and a lowerwatery zone, means for supplying emulsion` to be treated thereto.` attheioilzand water interface of said zones-afltering- :chamber locatedwithin the watery.-zonehhavinggansinclined topkwall and lan ,upright.end walli having an opening below the top wa11,-a water-'outlet pipehaving its opening at the-lower portionof the ltering chamber,andfanfoil returnzjipipe communicating with the top of saidinclinectwall and discharging into the upper-:oily ZonesffandV means forwithdrawing. oil fromfzthe uppergportion of the oil zone at apointnsubstantiallyxremoved from the .emulsionsupplying means.

25. A substantially'horizontaliclosed oil-water emulsion treaterincludingsatrelatively lowgpressured hot :zone and arelatively?- highpressured `old free `-water knockoutfzone,- a1partition'fseparating thetwo zones, means for supplying uid to be treated under pressure to thefree water knockout zone, wherein the uid is separated into watery andoily layers, a conduit connecting .the oily i layer. of the water'knockout zone'lwth the ,lower portion .oftthe. `:heatedv zone, .whereinfurther separationof .the oilyportionintoioilfand water layers .takes Vplace,. means .for A.withdrawing i the oil fromthe. heated zone ofthetreater, means .for .pumping .fhotiwaten-.from the .low pressuredhot.zone..and introducingit into=the hig'hpressured 4cold Vfree .water`knockout .1. zone, ,.means for withdrawingwater ffromxthellowerrportion of .the water.. knockoutzone .of .the .treater at f-.a .point.substantially removed. from the 'pointfH at..which .thewaterromthehotfzonegs introduced, and

means. for.. maintaining .a regulated.. liquid level v.withinythe..treater.

` T26.. emulsiontrvezltter.comprisingY a ,horizontally. disposedelongated,.tubularfcasing partition ing and dividingthe. casing intoIseparate horizontally V.aligned emulsion .treating chambers, meansincluding..restricted lconduits connecting vsuccessivechambers.forproducing .pressurefdrcp side of.the.heater.

of.- fluid Yin-passingzthroug-li. said.chambers,. means for .introducing-underpressureemulsionnuidfto .be vtreated .containingzwaterf oil randgas.- to fone of.. said chambers,- --wherebyfthe Afluictis caused to .owthrough :the 'successive treating chambers vwith .resulting separation,of foil,water` v'and-gas from the .uid .and lformation` .ciegas-zonesof varying.` pressures. at 4thef,upper part .of Aeach A,of theindividualchambers;means `for .maintaining.` ...a vpredetermined aliquidlevelUAV within ufthe V.treaten and means for. separately -`withdrawingoil, .water and gas from `different levels ofthe treater.

27. v.An .emulsion..treater.=as set `forth inclaim 26. including-anemulsionhea-ting. chamber having a .heater..therein,f` and means fordirecting ,iniuent .iiuid .to rbeltreated against` the-under "'28. Anemulsion treatemas set=iorth.-.inclaim .277 having. gas `witlidrawal--means -1 communicatl,ing with. the-upperportion of ther-heatingechamber.Y

. 29. Anlernulsion treaterfvasfset forthdn claim Las! one` .of .,said.parti/tion. 'means 2separating-. the

washingandlbafiling chamber sfrornV said. settling cham-ber. i

.31. Anemulsion .treater-.-aseset forth .i-n-;claim '29 which includes altering chamberfiinfhorizontal..align.ment. withgthe .heating.v` and`washing andl'baiiii'ngchambersjporous; nl-tering mafteri'al. insaidlfilteringchambereanda perforated wallpas. one. ofsaid,...partitionymeans-separating said ','llteringv .chamberf .from thei .washing :and

baing chamber.

L32; .An emulsion ltreaten comprising i aefclosed horizontallydisposed@elongatedvtubuiarc casing, upright partitions-:separatingthecasingrinto; sep- ,.arate .horizontally:.alignedstreatingchanrbersin'- cludirigl a-heati-ng chamberfhaazinga.heating ;unit {thereim a.settling.;,chamber;;and. ifreera'watfer t knockout.- ch-amber;:aheatcbrptthe cheating Scham- A-ber; inlet? means ,forzsupplyingemuision l fluidi to be treated containing` free water to theiwater knockout chamber, conduit means for withdrawing separated outwater from the treater atv the lower portion of the water knockoutchamber,

19 means including a conduit opening intothe water knockout chamber ataL level above the fluid inlet andzwater outletandi opening into `theheating chamber'below 'the vheating unitfor supplying thereto emulsionfrom which free water has been separated, conduit meansfconnecting theupper portion of the heating chamber to the settling chamber forsupplying heated fluid thereto, means including al conduit communicatingwith the lower portion of the settling chamf;

ber and leading to the water knockout zone for returning hot treated outwater under pressure thereto, and an oil outletl conduit leading fromthe upper portion of the settling chamber.

33. An emulsion treater asset f orthin claim 32 wherein the meansfor'returningjhot'tr'eated out water to the water knockoutchamberrincludes a float controlled gas pressure chamber located outsidethe treater casing.

34. An emulsion treater comprising a longitudinally disposed tubularcasing having a plurality of upright partitions therein separating thecasing into a series of axially aligned treating chambers arranged intheorder named, comprising a heating chamber having heating means therein,a bailling chamber having bailiing means therein, a settling chamber,and a free water knockout chamber, conduit means for supplying underpressure emulsion fluid to be treated, said conduit means includingbranch connections leading to the free water knockout chamber and to theheating chamber respectively, valve means controlling said branchconnections whereby the emulsion fluid may be supplied to either chamberas desired, the free water knockout and settling chambers beingVarranged adjacent one another and separated by a partition having acontrolled opening therein, Ywhereby the water knockout chamber mayserve as an additional settling space when the entering emulsion fluid fis directed to the heater.

' "35. A process of operating an emulsion treater having a plurality oihorizontally aligned chambers separated by upright partitions providedwith restricted connectingv passageways, each chamber containingsuperposed'liquid and gas zones, the 'gas zones varying in pressure insuccessive chambers, said process comprising passing emulsion fluid tobe 'treated initially containing oil, gas and water successively'throughsaid chambers and restricted passageways to separatethe constituents`thereof under varying gas pressureconditions, withdrawing Water from atleast one of said chambers, and withdrawing the oil and gas separatelyfrom the water.

36. A process as set forth in claim 35 wherein excess gas is withdrawnfrom at least one of the chambers.

37. A process as set forth in claim 35 wherein heating, washing andsettling operations are performed in successive chambers of the'treater.

38. A process of operating a closed emulsion treater including a heatingchamber, a settling chamber, and a free water knockout chamber arrangedin horizontal alignment, and having a partition'separating the chambers,which com prises introducing emulsion fluid tobe treated and containingoil, gas and watery constituents 'into the water knockout chamber andvallowing the free water and gas to separate out in said i chamber,thereby forming superposed water, oily and gas layers, withdrawing theoily liquid from of the incoming emulsionl Ailuid, and withdrawing waterknockout chambenmgwuY l Y,

39. An emulsion treater comprising a closed horizontally disposedelongated*,tubularY casing,

excess water from the lowenportion of the free Vupright partitionsdividing the'casing into separate horizontally alignedl chambersincluding (l) a free `water knockout'cha'inber having means forsupplying relatively coolemulsion'thereto to be treated, and (2)v aseparate closed nltering and settling chamber containing relatively yhotfluids and including a top gas pressure zone, a bottom water zone and anintermediate clean oil Zone, and means forv transferring relatively hotwater from the water zone of the filtering and settling chamber to therelatively cool knockout chamber at the oil and water interface of saidknockout chamber, and lmeans for withdrawing gas 'and oil from thesettling chamber.

40. An emulsion treater as set forth in claim 39 wherein the means fortransferring water'from the settling chamber to. the water knockoutchamber is actuated by external gas pressure.

c RANSQME W- REFERENCES crrnn' f The following references "aresof recordin the file of this patent:

UNITED srrrrlt's,y PATENTS c Number Name Date 4;; 966,022 J01li1S0I). 3T Allg. 2 1910 1,052,963 Reid Feb. 11, 1913 1,405,129 Harris Jan. 31,1922 1,559,035 lilgloff et al.'v Oct. 27, 1925 1,624,092 Coleman 1 Apr.12, 192".l 50 1,648,558 Meston et al. Nov. 8, 1927 1,690,537 Hele-Shawetal. Nov. 6, 1928 1,818,480 Hoppe Aug. 11, 1931 2,049,068 Loupe ,July 28,1936 2,179,131 Millard NOV. 7, 1939 55 2,211,171 Self Allg. 13, 19402,261,057 Erwin v Oct. 28, 1941 2,261,100' Erwin Oct. 2,8, 19412,261,101 Y 2,273,915 so 2,342,950 f, 2,348,167 2,354,856 2,357,1892,334,222 g c.; 2,398,338 Y A I 2,420,115 7Walkeret al.v Mayo, 19472,457,959 Y Walkerf Jan .4, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS o Number Country ifDate 424,395 Germany j Jan. 26, 1926

